Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and Shrubs eBook

C. PAUCIFLORA is readily distinguished from the former
by its more slender growth, smaller leaves, and fewer
flowered spikes. Flowers primrose-yellow.

C. SPICATA.—­Japan, 1864. This Japanese
shrub is of very distinct appearance, having leaves
like those of our common Hazel, and drooping spikes
of showy-yellowish, fragrant flowers that are produced
before the leaves. There is a variegated form
in cultivation.

The various species of Corylopsis are very ornamental
garden plants, and to be recommended, on account of
their early flowering, for prominent positions in
the shrubbery or by the woodland walk. Light,
rich loam seems to suit them well.

CORYLUS.

CORYLUS AVELLANA PURPUREA.—­Purple Hazel.
This has large leaves of a rich purple colour, resembling
those of the purple Beech, and is a very distinct
plant for the shrubbery border. Should be cut
down annually if large leaves are desired.

C. COLURNA.—­Constantinople Hazel.
Turkey, 1665. This is the largest and most ornamental
of the family, and is mentioned here on account of
the showy catkins with which the tree is usually well
supplied. When thickly produced, as they usually
are on established specimens, these long catkins have
a most effective and pleasing appearance, and tend
to render the tree one of the most distinct in cultivation.
Under favourable circumstances, such as when growing
in a sweet and rather rich brown loam, it attains
to fully 60 feet in height, and of a neat shape, from
the branches being arranged horizontally, or nearly
so. Even in a young state the Constantinople
Hazel is readily distinguished from the common English
species, by the softer and more angular leaves, and
by the whitish bark which comes off in long strips.
The stipules, too, form an unerring guide to its identity,
they being long, linear, and recurved.

COTONEASTER.

COTONEASTER BACILLARIS.—­Nepaul, 1841.
A large-growing species, and one of the few members
of the family that is more ornamental in flower than
in fruit. It is of bold, portly, upright growth,
and sends up shoots from the base of the plant.
The pretty white flowers are borne in clusters for
some distance along the slender shoots, and have a
very effective and pleasing appearance; indeed, the
upper portion of the plant has the appearance of a
mass of white blossoms.

C. FRIGIDA.—­Nepaul, 1824. The species
forms a large shrub or low tree with oblong, elliptical,
sub-evergreen leaves. The flowers are white and
borne in large corymbs, which are followed by scarlet
berries in September.

C. MICROPHYLLA.—­Small-leaved Cotoneaster.
Nepaul, 1825. This is, from a flowering point
of view, probably the most useful of any member of
this rather large genus. Its numerous pretty white
flowers, dark, almost Yew-green leaves, and abundance
of the showiest red berries in winter, will ever make
this dwarf, clambering plant a favourite with those
who are at all interested in beautiful shrubs.
All, or nearly all, the species of Cotoneaster are
remarkable and highly valued for their showy berries,
but, except the above, and perhaps C. buxifolia (Box-leaved
Cotoneaster), few others are worthy of consideration
from a purely flowering point of view.